Electric signal for railways



O. GASSETT. Electric-Signal for Railways.

Patented Eune 8, i889.

E 74 2252 ewes.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-IJTNOGRAFNER. wgsH UNlTED TATES OSCAR GASSETT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,455, dated June 8, 1880.

Application filed AugustM, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, OSCAR GASSETT, of the city of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce an electric antomatically-operating signal for railways which can be successfully and reliably used outdoors, exposed, and not covered by an inclosing-case, as is the usual practice, and of durable construction and moderate expense.

The invention consists in a novel construction of the banner in suitable sections to offer the least possible resistance to the wind and materially lessen the jar of .the stroke at the finish of each change in position of the banner, which is shown as operated bya machine controlled by an electric circuit and actuated by a weight to move the signal automatically a quarter-rotation and back promptly but without undue momentum.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation, with the front face of the movement-case removed, of my electric signal. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of one of the sections or slats of the banner of the same on a somewhat larger scale than in the former figures.

A represents the signal-post, upon the top of which is secured the banner-movement case B. To the opposite sides of said case are firmly secured the legs 0 G of the banner-yoke D. The banner E is framed in a vertical flat metal ring, F, provided at its top with a pivot, G, which is fitted and turns in the yoke D, attached to the signal-post.

The bottom of the said ring F is adapted to be secured in the socket I of the signal-machine, to turn positively with it. Said socket I is at the upper end of a vertical arbor, J, to the bottom of which is secured a horizontal quadrant bevel-gear, K, meshing with a verticalbevel-gear, M, provided with a horizontallyprojeeting stud, N.

An armature-lever, O, carrying the armature Q, controlled by an electro-magnet, It, has its fulcrum-arbor S placed near to the said magnet, so that it has a short arm, to which the armature is attached, and a long arm, T,

provided with a detent-stud, a, against which the ends of a detent-lever, P, may be stopped. The movement of the said lever is limited by suitable stop-pins. The detent-lever P has on its side a stud or crank-pin, W, which is connected, by means of the connecting-rod 00, with the stud N, on the gear M.

Y represents the front, and Y the rear, frame of the movement, they being secured together by screws and by stays or cross-studs between them.

The detent-lever P has a central hub, andis mounted and secured upon the forward end of the'horizontal arbor Z, which has a bearingin each of the said frames, as shown, and is revolved by a weight, Z, suspended on a rope or chain, 1), passing from a winding shaft or drum, 0, upon which said rope is wound, and from which the power is applied to a large loose gear, d,"by the usual fixed ratchet-wheel e and pawl.

The loose gear 61 engages a pinion, f, secured upon the arbor Z, so that the weight turns the wheel or gear (I, and it revolves the pinion f, arbor Z, anddetent-lever P.

The winding shaft or drum 0 has a square shank on its front end, to apply a windingcrank, to wind the weight in the usual manner.

The detent-lever P has two opposite arms, each provided with a stop, g, to engage the stud u and stop the lever P. The one stud g is properly distant from the fulcrum of the lever P to meet the stud a on its upstroke, or when the armature is drawn up to the magnet, and the other stud g is sufficiently close to said fulcrum to meet the stud a only while the armature is not attracted by its magnet, so that as soon as the armature is drawn to the magnet the lever with the one stud g passes by the stud to, allowing the shaft Z to revolve until the opposite stud g is caused to stop by meeting the stud u, and then remains in this position until the armature is released by the magnet and drops upon its stoppin, when the now engaged stud 1 passes by and the opposite stud g meets the stud u.

The lever P thus makes before each stop a half-turn, and the crank-pin W thereon consequently makes alternate strokes, and by the link x turns the gear M alternately from right to left and from left to right each such move are secured a series of parallel horizontal rods,

gear K and socket I, and consequently the signal banner, to turn a quarter-revolution to show its face or edge, and thusindicate either danger or safety.

In the ring or frame F of the signal-banner ment causing the 0, upon which are hung slats p 1), provided with eyes 1' 1 at the ends of their upper edges, by which they are suspended from said rods, as shown, so as to swing freely and nearly cover the space between the said rods.

The slats in each space between said rods are made of two equal sections, meeting at the central axis of the banner, as shown, so that in turning the banner the resistance against it on both sides is perfectly balanced.

It will be observed that by having the surface of the banner consist mainly of slats free to swing, as described, the wind will easily pass through, causing but little pressure on the banner, which accordingly may be readily operated even in a high wind. It therefore is suitable to be used and operated entirely un covered and exposed.

I do not herein claim the electrically-controlled mechanical motor for imparting the I movement to the signal-banner, nor any of the devices thereof, as the same form the subject of another application.

1. A railway-signal having its vibrating or turning banner provided with yielding sections to operate uncovered and exposed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An open or exposed signal controlled by an electro-magnetand provided with a turning or vibrating banner having yielding sections, snbstanti ally as and for the purpose described.

3. A signal-banner adapted to be turned on an axis to be displayed in different positions, and provided with yielding sections, substantially as and for the purpose herein stated.

4. The signal-banner consisting of an annular frame and the sections or slats therein pivoted to vibrate upon cross-rods, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

OSCAR GASSE'IT.

Witnesses V. G. HOWE, GARDNER SANDERSON. 

